The billionaire's only desire-Chapter 86: Hanging out with his best friend, part 1

"It is incredible how much exposure your cooking videos are getting. And you have just received an invitation from Food Network. They want you to be a contestant on one of their daytime programs." Laura babbled to Maya.

"This is huge!" Laura paused. Her hand was planted on her hips. "Are you listening to me, Maya?"

"Huh," Maya has been staring at her phone all this time, her thoughts muddled over one call she needs to make.

"What did I say?" Laura gave her a hard look.

Maya looked at her absent-mindedly. "Uh, you mentioned the Food Network."

Laura shook her head. "You have been acting strangely since the night you returned from the gala party. What is going on with you?"

"Nothing. My sous chef job is taking its toll on me. Don’t worry I’m fine." Maya shoots Laura with a fake smile to make her lie more convincing.

Haven moved closer to Maya and whispered. "Just call him," she says as she wipes down the kitchen counter. Maya chose to shoot the cooking videos in Haven’s Aunt’s home because her kitchen is larger than Natalia’s.

"You have got my boss looking depressed, and his eye bags are getting heavy. He is completely lost without you."

Maya kept staring at her phone. She hates herself right now. She is also lost without Dalton, plunging into depression. She needs to see him and tell him about Vico, but she is not ready to see him.

"I will call him, perhaps this weekend," Maya whispered.

Haven nods. "Okay. "

Maya pushed aside her thoughts and squealed. "Laura, you said I received an invitation to participate in a Food Network show!"

"Yep!"

"Wow, that is huge!" Maya shrieks.

"When exactly is the show?"

"uhh...." Laura scrolls through her phone. "In two weeks. "

"Okay, I hope the shooting will not be too tedious. I still want to keep my sous chef job." The restaurant management has come across her cooking videos, and they have expressed their worries she might quit to become a full-time Internet chef because the cooking videos are getting popular.

"Are we done with today’s shoot?" Maya stretched her arms lazily.

"The outro is perfect. Yeah, we are done." Laura says while reviewing the recorded videos on the camera.

"Hey, Maya, can you drop me off somewhere ASAP? Natalia suddenly requested.

"Where?"

"My boss’ penthouse."

Maya was confused for some minutes before it clicked. Natalia has stopped stripping and she is now a business tycoon’s personal assistant. She has forgotten all about it.

"Okay, where did I put my bag?" Maya looks around the kitchen for it.

"You must be in the living room," Maya recalls sitting on the couch to chat with Haven before they all left for the kitchen.

She did find her bag on the couch. She slung it over her left shoulder and returned to the kitchen.

"We are leaving," Maya kissed Haven on the cheek. She then moved to Laura, who was still behind the camera and hugged her.

"I will stay behind," Laura said:

"What will you guys be doing?" Maya inquired with curiosity.

Haven shrugged. Movies, perhaps. Or reality TV shows."

Maya smiled. "Have fun, guys." She was pleased that Haven and Laura were becoming increasingly close and forming a strong friendship.

Maya’s gaze quickly focused on Haven’s left hand. No engagement ring. "Where is your engagement ring, and have you begun wedding preparations?"

Haven’s eyes darted around, avoiding Maya’s gaze. "I forgot to wear it after showering, and it is a long-term engagement; we are both too young to get married, so my parents and my fiancé’s parents have decided it is best if we marry when I turn 24."

"Oh, your parents are right. You should enjoy your early twenties," Maya says, but she sensed something was wrong. Why does this sound like an arranged marriage? Haven doesn’t seem to be enthusiastic about the engagement. It feels as if she is getting cold feet.

What if Haven’s parents are forcing her to marry that guy? But Maya was skeptical because Haven told her that her parents were not overbearing and that she had the freedom to make her own life decisions.

No, she is overthinking. Maybe Haven is simply nervous. Engagement is a big step in a relationship, and it can be overwhelming.

"Let us get going," Natalia said from the living room.

"Bye, girls," Maya waved at Haven and Laura before rushing out.

Maya rummaged through her bag for the car keys

"When are you going to get rid of this beaten-up pickup truck? You have enough money to buy a better car." Natalia whines.

Maya rolled her eyes. "Not happening anytime soon. "This pickup truck is my baby, and I love it to death." She unlocked the driver’s door and slid behind the wheel.

Natalia scoffed as she settled into the passenger seat. "Sometimes I get the impression that you are a bored rich girl cosplaying as a poor girl."

Maya chuckled, recalling a similar conversation with Dalton at the diner. "You are not wrong." She has been, indeed, cosplaying poor her whole life against her will. She doesn’t have to anymore because her stepfather is dead, and she has a lot of money sitting in her bank accounts.

"location?"

Natalia uttered it and Maya turned the key, hitting the roads.

Thirty minutes later, they arrived in front of a skyscraper.

"Does your boss own the entire building?" Maya inquired as she descended from the truck.

"Yeah"

Maya admires the magnificent building as they enter.

They took the elevator to the top floor, the penthouse.

Natalia enters the codes, and the door automatically opens, ushering them in.

Maya was not surprised when she saw the luxurious living room. She is used to it.

"I will get us something to drink." Natalia dashed to the kitchen before Maya could tell her she did not need anything.

Maya taps her feet, impatiently waiting for Natalia and wondering where her boss is.

A man entered.

Maya quickly shut her eyes. The man was half naked, with only a towel around his waist.

"Maya, Che sorpresa!"

Maya slowly opened her eyes. "Marcello. "

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